Short answer: Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve lies about 16 km north of Gisborne, with public access from State Highway 35 at Pouawa. It is a no-take reserve where clients can beach-walk, snorkel and shore-dive, best at low tide. Explera DMC New Zealand plans it as a short coastal stop on a Tairāwhiti programme.
The reserve was set up in 1999 after a joint application by Ngāti Konohi and the Department of Conservation (DOC). On 7 October 2026 they asked the public for views in a 25-year review.
What is the reserve?
- Size and setting. DOC lists 2,452 hectares of coast, with eight marine habitats including inshore reef, rocky intertidal platforms and sediment flats.
- A tangata whenua partnership. Ngāti Konohi and DOC applied for the reserve together, and they are now running the review together.
- What the review looks at. DOC says it will assess how well the reserve meets its objectives and look for ways to improve management, visitor experiences, education, research, protection of marine life and partnerships with tangata whenua.
What can a group do there?
- Go at low tide. DOC says low tide is best for beach-walking, snorkelling and shore-diving, when the reef platform becomes a shallow, sheltered place to enter the water.
- See the reef life. DOC lists seaweeds, kina, sponges and fish such as spotties and red moki below the low-tide line, and kelp forest at 10 to 20 metres.
- Respect the shorebirds. Shorebirds breed at the Pouawa river mouth from August to February, so we brief clients to keep their distance.
- Stay on public land. The beach above the seaweed strand line, the pā and the farmland are private, with no public access.
Rules and safety for clients
- Take nothing. It is illegal to take, disturb, kill or damage anything in the reserve, including shells.
- No litter and no structures. DOC lists polluting, littering and putting up structures as offences.
- Check the sea. DOC warns that weather and sea conditions change quickly and that landslides are a risk on the beach in bad weather. We check tide tables and the forecast, and use a licensed guide for any snorkelling.
How Explera DMC New Zealand can help
We plan Gisborne and the East Coast as part of a North Island route. See our Gisborne destination page, our Rhythm and Vines notes for Gisborne, our Otago marine reserves guide and cruises and water experiences.
FAQ
Where is Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve? About 16 km north of Gisborne on the East Coast of the North Island, with public access from State Highway 35 at Pouawa.
What is the best time to visit? Low tide, when DOC says the reef platform is shallow and sheltered for walking, snorkelling and shore-diving.
Can clients collect shells or fish there? No. It is a marine reserve, and taking or disturbing anything is illegal.
Who looks after the reserve? DOC and Ngāti Konohi, who applied for it together in 1999 and are now running its 25-year review.
Is all of the beach open to the public? No. The beach above the seaweed strand line, the pā and the farmland are private land.
Sources
- Have your say on the review of Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve, Department of Conservation, 7 October 2026
- Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve, Department of Conservation
Talk to the trade desk
Explera DMC New Zealand trade desk — b2b@explera.co.nz, WhatsApp +66 93 656 8090, B2B portal b2b.expleradmc.com.
